Claimed: Unchartered Territory
Page 24
“You’re right. Can you make sure everyone’s connections flow properly?”
“Of course,” Rabika said in her normally cheery demeanor.
Four day passed since she’d awakened and Dallas threw herself back into the routine of work and teaching as much as she could between being at Remar’s bedside and helping Nola get acquainted with her new surroundings. As expected Rabika took to the young girl as if she were the little sister she’d always wanted.
Dallas shot a look at Nola who was busily instructing one of her aunts and the newest member to the class.
“Do not worry, I will see to her,” Rabika reassured. She wasn’t worried, at least not too much Nola was in good hands with Rabika and her aunt. Actually, Dallas was surprised when soon after both women’s arrival the quieter of the twin women agreed to join the class while her sister spent most of her time in her room. Dallas had offered the trio their own home within the sector and Nola seemed more than excited about the idea. Dallas didn’t doubt her aunts would agree just to make the girl happy, it was obvious they loved her.
With the thought of ways to help the trio have a new life at the back of her mind Dallas went to her convalescing bond mate. She smiled to herself thinking of the surprised look on his face at seeing her early arrival. She spent as much time with him as his recovery allowed not wanting to impede his process. Whenever she thought about him dying it shook her to the very core. She pushed off the thought and moved a little quicker through the manor to the onsite physician’s facility. By the time the door’s folded open excited energy flowed through her.
The smile on her face slipped.
Remar’s bed was empty. She stepped inside and looked around the room unnecessarily as if his large frame wouldn’t have been spotted instantly. His crumpled bed was a clear sign he’d been there at some point. Dallas turned to go in search of him, the physician or both. She’d given clear instructions to them that no matter how much he griped Remar was to rest until he was given a clean bill of health. She made it only a few feet into the hall before being stopped in her tracks by the sight of Remar and his physician coming towards. Their twin guilty expressions was almost comical.
“Exactly how long has this been going on?” she questioned the doctor marching directly up to him.
“He has been improving tremendously and exercise is a much needed aspect of his recovery,” the medic sputtered looking at Remar for help. In turn Remar was busily staring down at her with a lopsided grin on his face.
“And these strolls have been happening for how long?”
Seeing that no help would be forthcoming from his leader the physician sputtered on, “Um… his health being able to accommodate… three days,” he blurted out finally.
“Three days!” she screeched. Yup, from the pained look on the physician’s face she’d definitely screeched.
“Dal’las, you should not be cross with him. I am feeling far better and if his testing did not support it he threatened to strap me to the bedja if I attempted to move.”
Dallas looked between the two for any sign of deception. Other than the Doc looking completely uncomfortable at being put on the spot and Remar as if he’d been shot by the grinning bug they seemed genuine.
“I intended to tell you the news that I can return to our chamber today.”
She looked to the physician for confirmation who confirmed with a sharp nod. Dallas gave Remar a once over as if in doing so she’d be able to assess his medical condition.
“Are you sure?” she asked the physician.
“Yes.” And as if to prove it he swept her up in his arms holding her at eye level to him without showing the tiniest bit of exertion
“Remar!” she squealed. “You shouldn’t be picking me up.”
He raised a brow at her. “You realize that you weigh no more than a femar?”
She shot him a look as an image of the tiny feline like creature that couldn’t have been bigger that a raccoon came to mind.
“I am definitely heavier than that.”
“Of course, in fact I was being polite, but now that you mention it seems as if you have picked up more weight than I remember.”
“Watch if buddy,” Dallas said placing her index finger in the middle of his forehead and giving a hard push.
As an afterthought his head snapped back than forward again.
He leaned in for a quick kiss before allowing her to slide down the length of his body to the ground.
The contact lit her up immediately and she knew he’d done it intentionally the moment she looked up at him.
Purposefully ignoring him, she turned her attention on the physician who was back to looking uncomfortable. “So doc, are there any other tests he needs before you release him to my custody?”
“No, we have discussed a time for our follow up examination, but he is prepared to return to his normal duties, with some caution of course.”
“But nothing to cause concern,” Remar added quickly.
Dallas mentally shook her head immediately catching the meaning behind his addition.
Men.
***
“Obviously, you weren’t listening to the doc,” Dallas chastised as Remar tugged at the multiple ties keeping her blue leather top in place.
“I did,” he growled in frustration as the task was taking longer than he wanted. “Have I not told you that I dislike your female warrior garb?”
“Yes, I recall you mentioning it once or twice.”
“And yet you insist upon putting me through this torture?”
He made a triumphant sound as the last tied binding was released and the top tossed aside leaving her bare to him. Dallas worked with the seamstress on the design meant for comfort, mobility and most importantly to keep her girl’s in check but she much preferred the end of the day when she could take the top off all together. Having Remar do it for her added a most enjoyable erotic element to the equation.
“Well, I didn’t expect for my injured bond mate to be undressing me today,” she offered.
He stopped briefly to fix her with a confused look, “You should always expect this from me.”
She held back a bubble of laughter. “Yes, because my husband is such a randy bastard?”
“Is that bad?”
She pretended to think. “No. No it isn’t. In fact I will show you just how much of a good thing it actually is,” she said taking a step back from him order to peel her matching leather pants down her legs. She was tempted to finish with a graceful twirl but stopped short at the serious expression Remar sported.
“Is something wrong? Should I send for the medic?” she moved toward him prepared to help him to their bed only inches away.
“I am fine Dal’las, at least physically. I know I have you back and that you are safe but my hearts ache thinking about-”
“Shh… don’t do that to yourself. We’re together. It’s not your fault that I was taken in fact if I hadn’t been we could not have saved the other women. Don’t dwell on what almost happened. Instead, I think we should focus on the reality of our future,” she said pushing the vest he wore off his shoulders before making quick work of the loose pantaloons. She moved to press her body against his feeling the immediate arousal.
“Maybe, you should relax and let me do the work,” she said nudging him backward and onto the bed.
“You unman me Dal’las. Do you not think me incapable of fulfilling my duty to you?”
“Hardly, but I’ve been thinking about what I want to do to you for several days.”
He growled low in his throats.
“By the gods woman, I will never get enough of you.”
“You sound as if you’re complaining.”
“Never,” he growled before tumbling her on the bed until he lay nestled between her thighs.
She giggled at the quick transition but quickly found herself purring as he found the right spot to rub his thick erection against. The way he made her feel she was happy to relinquish contro
l of their lovemaking to him.
“I think it would be nice if you could stop by the class tomorrow. It’ll be encouraging for the women to see they have your support and a good chance for Nola to see you’re on the mend.”
“Consider it done. You really care about the girl?”
“I see a lot of me when I look at her. Lucky for her she has two aunts who will look after her.”
“And you too.”
Dallas snuggled in closer, “Yeah and me too.”
She sighed heavily remembering the elephant in the room who always popped up when discussing their house guest.
“What are you going to do about Voren?”
“His crimes have sealed his fate. If it were my decision alone he would have taken his last breath four moon risings last, but his crime was not only against us. His status and the stability of his sector will call for unanimous support and consideration by the other leaders.”
Dallas understood and appreciated the patience he used in the name of diplomacy even if she wanted to see Voren beaten within an inch of his life.
“During our escape we encountered a group of men willing to just kidnap us as if it were a normal occurrence. Tell me we just happened to stumble across the dregs of humanity and it isn’t a common practice.”
“Yes and no. Men outnumber women on our planet.”
“Yup, got that.”
“Obviously there are those willing to go through any means to possess them. There is a secret market for the trade of women and Voren’s sector happens to be the hub for the nefarious activity.”
Dallas was appalled. “And this is just allowed?”
“In our sector it’s stamped out when discovered but none of the leaders have a right to impede on another’s jurisdiction.”
“Well I hope something will be done now that Voren is out of power. Women being taken from their families and sold into god knows what... it’s deplorable.”
Remar gave her a gentle squeeze, “I will see to the matter personally.”
“Remar it can’t just be stopped, we have to try and find those women who’ve been taken. If we start with the men who attacked us I’m sure it will lead somewhere.”
“Agreed, I will have them questioned immediately.”
“I want to help in any way I can.”
“Aye, I was under the assumption you would.”
She rose up enough to look at him. “And you’re okay with that?”
“Aye, my only request is that you not participate in anything that will put you in danger.”
As if he would even allow that to happen, the concern reflected in his eyes stopped her from commenting. She understood his worry and after their recent ordeal would do everything to keep them both out of harm’s way.
“Have our guest decided what they want to do?” he asked.
“Not yet, I think Nola would be perfectly content to stay in the manor but we’ll have to wait and see. Are you okay with them being here?”
“They can remain as long as they would like.”
“Good, I have one other request.”
He waited.
“I want a full pardon for Kala-”
“Dal’las-”
“I know she has a large part in all this but something tells me she’s not the total Cretan I once believed her to be.”
Remar sighed heavily. “Are you sure it’s what you want?”
She nodded.
“So be it.”
“You think you can get Keltar on the same page?”
“If I must.”
Dallas stretched to give him a butterfly kiss. “You’re a good man Remar.”
“I must admit that you have had some influence on me. You make me a better Chezarian.”
“I think we make each other better. Although this may be the only time I admit it, you’ve been pretty good for me too. Your ability to compromise has really shown me what it means to be in a relationship and have family.”
“So you no longer regret our joining?” he asked.
“Not in the slightest.”
“Hmm, I believe you have a term on E’rth about the show me state.”
Dallas giggled. “Okay, that only applies to people from Missouri and I’m from… never mind. I’m okay with being a Missourian for the next couple of hours.”
“I would much prefer you showing me for the rest of our lives.”
She pretended to think. “I just might be able to swing that.”
The End
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